Buying a stroller when you have been used to a big travel system can be mind boggling! It’s one of the few things that people really struggle with when Baby & Toddler shopping!
When I was working in retail selling pushchairs and strollers we had a few questions that helped people out, and helped us narrow down what to recommend based on their answers. I thought it might be helpful to jot down a few quick and easy tips for buying a stroller for the first time.
- What do you want the stroller for?
Are you totally replacing the big travel system and making this your daily use stroller or is this purely for the odd trip and holidays? You need to think about what you want from a stroller very carefully because some are suited for more heavy duty work than others. For example, we bought a very cheap double stroller for our holiday abroad, purely with the intention of using it on holiday and in the airport, then ditching it when we went to get our luggage. This might sound daft, but the truth is, at £30 that stroller wasn’t going to last much long once we got home. It didn’t recline, didn’t sit especially comfortably and was a pain in the arse to push – it was fit purely for a short period of time and that’s it. In contrast, if you are wanting some more heavy duty, you need something with bigger wheels, comfortable seating and possibly adjustable handles to help you avoid a cramped back.
2. What is the age of the child going in there?
Did you know if a stroller doesn’t recline at all it isn’t suitable for a baby and is for a child of 6m plus? Possibly not. You need to make sure that your stroller is going to be relevant to your child and, especially if it’s a long term use stroller, isn’t going to harm their hips (by not having a suitable foot/leg support), back or neck (recline and support).
3. Do you suffer from back problems, live somewhere where storage is an issue or you have to lug the stroller around a lot?
This is relevant if you live in a flat, or small home that has little by way of storage. In this instance you would want something compact and lightweight when folded and easy to fold. I think it’s important to remember you want something long lasting and comfortable but if this means the heaviest stroller of the bunch and you are going to be struggling to get it around it will become more a burden than anything else. Investing in an extra light weight stroller would be sensible
4. Be reasonable with budget.
Look, you might have forked out a bundle on your travel system, I get it, but going for a £45-55 mid range stroller and expecting it to work as well as something that is in the higher price range isn’t realistic. If you are looking for something to last at least a year, expect to pay £100+ unless it’s on offer. If you are looking for a one-trip or very occasional use stroller for grandparents, I wouldn’t pay above £75 if your child is over 6 months *unless* you think you might want something more permanent.
There are my top tips for what to consider when buying a stroller, it’s worth having a set idea of what you want when you go shopping and then looking at the different options! For more tips and advice visit Tesco stroller and pushchair guide. Good luck!
H x
Hi Harriet,
That’s awesome tips for buying a baby stroller! I think so every new parent need to know about stroller buying
guide. So that, They can buy a good stroller. It’s extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this write-up and
the rest of the site is also very good. Thanks for sharing. 😀
Great tips! Our first buggy was a travel system, but we’ve had an umbrella fold one since, which is revolutionary!
Yes Pamela, it makes life sooooo much easier right? H x
These are great tips. Going from a travel system to a stroller is a big change and if you buy one too cheap and flimsy you’ll probably hate it, so it’s definitely worth researching and finding the best one for you xx
Absolutely Alex! Thanks for the lovely comment H x
Great post, it’s such a minefield isn’t it choosing a stroller! There are soooo many to choose from all with different functions, it’s a wonder we ever agreed on one in the first place! X
It really is Steph 🙂 x
Great tips, I do miss my stroller as somewhere to hang things on when we’re out for walks, now I end up carrying it all!
Yes Kizzy, officially the best use 🙂 H x
Great tips! There are so many strollers to choose from, but it’s finding the right one that ticks all the boxes! x
Thanks Emma 🙂 x
Oh there is nothing worth than a flimsy pushchair. I have one that we were gifted and I completely hate it! (Ops this probably makes me very ungrateful!) I often push one of my twins in the stroller while the other walks so a super manoeuvrable stroller is a god send.
I don’t think it makes you ungrateful at all! I hate flimsy pushchairs!!
This is a great post! I’m thinking about getting another stroller although my husband may kill me!! I’ve had 4 already xx
Haha.. yes he might! I want to buy a bugaboo bee, only thing is that would mean we’ve had every bugaboo going and… well… I suspect I could get a telling off too! H x